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Cristina Ramirez
Founder & Artistic Director

Cristina (Siegel) Ramirez is the passionate and driven Founder and Artistic Director of Coalesce Center for Dance Artistry, a thriving dance studio dedicated to fostering talent and creativity. With a lifelong love of dance that began at the young age of four, Cristina's journey in the arts has been nothing short of wonderful. From studying ballet, tap, modern, and jazz in her youth to earning a dance scholarship to DeSales University, where she graduated with a BA in Dance and a minor in Italian, Cristina has always been committed to excellence in her craft.

During her college years, Cristina had the privilege of learning from esteemed professors such as Timothy Cowart, Angela Sigley, and Trinette Singleton (Joffrey Ballet), and performing for renowned choreographers like Tara Madsen Robbins and Camille Armstrong. Her dedication to dance led her to become a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, further enhancing her skills and knowledge in the field. As a member of the Lady Hoofers, Philadelphia's all-female professional tap company, Cristina continued to hone her craft while teaching in various counties and expanding her dance repertoire.

Under her leadership, the past seasons at Coalesce have been marked by growth, success, and a strong sense of community among teachers, students, and families. Cristina attributes this success to the unwavering dedication, support, and kindness that define the studio's culture. Heading into the 6th Season, Cristina is excited to continue leading a talented group of faculty members, families, and students who share her vision and values, making Coalesce a place where passion, creativity, and camaraderie thrive.

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Jill Harrison Kalfin
Office Administrator, Substitute Instructor

Jill has an impressive and diverse background in the dance industry. She served as the Owner/Director of Jill’s Dance Center in Jupiter, Florida for 15 years. Her students excelled under her guidance, consistently winning top awards in performances and competitions. Jill also contributed to the arts community as a staff member at the prestigious Burt Reynolds Institute for Theater Training and The Jupiter Theater.

 

Upon relocating to New York City, Jill took on the role of Creative Director at Steps on Broadway, where she oversaw the Scholarship Program,

The Youth School, and where she produced the Annual Faculty Dance Concert. She also spearheaded the development of the Steps Ensemble Performance Company, showcasing her innovative and visionary approach to dance education. Throughout her career, Jill has demonstrated a passion for teaching and nurturing young talent.

 

After adopting a beautiful baby girl from China, Jill's journey led her to New Hope, Pennsylvania, where she founded The Dance Junction. Later, her family moved to California, where she lent her expertise to two accomplished Broadway performers at Broadway Arts Studio as an administrator and teacher.

 

Now, Jill is excited to bring her wealth of experience and creativity to Coalesce in Bucks County, a community that holds a special place in her heart. Her dedication to the art of dance and commitment to fostering a love for movement in others, continues to inspire and uplift those around her.

Jaimie Geddes
2023-2024 Instructor
 

Jaimie Geddes has been dancing for the past 33 years and has been teaching in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the past 14 years. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical at Jazz Unlimited Studio of Dance Arts in NJ, winning numerous regional and national titles. She had the privilege of studying with Meghan Braun, Molly Misgalla, Mia Michaels, Joe Lanteri, and Andy Blankenbuehler.

 

Her love of dance led to a passion for musical theatre, and she went on to obtain a BFA in musical theatre from NYU. She has since played many iconic roles including Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Cassie in A Chorus Line, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity, Lola in Damn Yankees, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and Sandy in Grease. She is currently a member of the resident company at Music Mountain Theatre in Lambertville, NJ.

 

She has taught at different studios throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties in addition to spending 5 years as the dance choreographer at the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference in York, PA and assisted Tony nominated choreographer Lorin Lotarro (Broadway's Waitress, Into the Woods) at the Bucks County Playhouse. She most recently got her BSN and works in oncology and hematology. She is excited to continue to share her passion for technique training and performance with Coalesce!

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Elizabeth Miles
2023-2024 Instructor

Elizabeth Miles has over 40 years of ballet and contemporary dance teaching experience in private schools, dance companies, and educational institutions.

 

Elizabeth is skilled in teaching both Vaganova and Cecchetti Techniques, she is RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Certified, SIlver Swans Certified (RAD), and is proficient in Martha Graham Modern Technique. Her experience in the arts gives her dancers a pre-professional training experience. Additional training was received from the following: Ballet Trianon, Martha Graham School, Academy of Dance (Wilmington DE,) David Howard (NYC, NY,) Vladimir Dowkoudovsky (NYC, NY,) Temple University (Philadelphia, PA,) Joan Kerr-Horton Technique, Dermott Burke (Princeton, NJ.)

 

Elizabeth Miles was a company member and soloist for Ballet Trianon for 10 years under the direction of Michael Lopuszanski in Philadelphia, PA. She then became the Assistant Professor of the Department of Theatre at the University of Delaware in Newark for 5 years. Elizabeth has also worked as a ballet coach at Brandywine Ballet Theatre under the direction of Donna Muzio in West Chester, PA, as a choreographer at Rita Jones Dance Company in Philadelphia, PA, as the Ballet Mistress at Dance Elite for Classical Ballet for 15 years under the direction of Delana Blore, among others.

 

Dance provides students with a sense of discipline and an appreciation for art and beauty. Movement like everything else in life has a rhythm that stirs the soul and awakens a passion for life. Whether a student is working toward a career in dance or taking class for personal enjoyment, the training and the dedication of the instructor is the same.

Kaitlyn Miller-Cox is a dance educator and performer with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. Kaitlyn is an adjunct professor at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, teaching Introduction to Tap and Introduction to Jazz, with plans to continue teaching at the collegiate level.

 

Her performance and training highlights include the Tuscan Summer Dance Intensive in Livorno, Italy, Radio City Rockette Intensive, performing in Walt Disney World and the Miss America Show Us Your Shoes Parade. She performed with the Lady Hoofer Tap Ensemble as an apprentice company member in December 2019. She continued her dance training at DeSales University, where she received a BA in Dance and Business Administration.

 

She has been a dance teacher for many years, working with many age groups from young children to adults. She also has extensive training in one-on-one and group stretching techniques to help students improve their flexibility, mobility, and overall life. Kaitlyn is also the office manager of Friendly Tax Advisors and became an Enrolled Agent in December 2020.

Kaitlyn Miller-Cox
2023-2024 Administrator, Substitute Instructor

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Donna Heffner
2023-2024 Instructor

Donna Heffner is a tap dancer, performer, instructor, and choreographer who has been tap dancing over 35 years. She has had amazing opportunities to train with some of the best tap dancers of our time. She was part of a week long tap lab with the iconic Heather Cornell, which was a life changing experience.  She also completed an 8-week tap teacher intensive training course with Karida Griffith.

 

She is the Artistic Director of Buck and Wing Tap Company, an adult and youth performance company located in Bucks County, PA. The company has performed in Philadelphia and NYC, as well as tap festivals along the East Coast. Recently, Donna choreographed a piece for the Flair Festival and is excited to be showing a piece again this fall. Donna's mission, both for class instruction and for Buck and Wing Tap Company, is to keep the history of tap alive and to provide performance opportunities for anyone who wants to tap dance.

 

Donna is a 10 year member of Uniting Colleges Through Tap, a Philadelphia based adult tap company under Director Corinne Karon. In addition to performing, Donna has taught all levels and ages of tap for over 20 years, including award winning choreography in student competitions. Her focus is not just on the steps, but teaching dancers how to be musicians as well.

 

Donna is also a championship level Irish dancer and one of the few remaining Toetap dancers in the country.

Janine Lahr is making her way back into the dance world after a fun & exciting 30 year career in the health and wellness industry. 

 

Although she has extensive experience in fitness, her love of movement actually started at the age of 4 when her parents enrolled her in the Eleanor Durkin School of Dance on Long Island, where she was raised. There she discovered a passion for music and would often find herself jumping at every chance she could get at leading & choreographing for school competitions.  

 

Janine’s adventurous side made her eager to travel in her 20’s and while working on a cruise ship in Alaska, she discovered yoga and began her journey to connect dance, fitness, and mindfulness into her work. The influence of all three is evident in her approach when designing & teaching her method. And her joy of movement is contagious.

 

Now residing in Doylestown with her husband and two young girls, she is excited to be a part of the Coalesce faculty and looking forward to meeting you in the new season to come.

Janine Lahr
2023-2024 Hip Hop
 Instructor

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Mary Kacsur has been dancing for over 16 years, training in various styles such as ballet, pointe, contemporary, tap, modern, jazz, Horton, hip hop and more. She is currently a student at The University of Michigan working towards her dual-degree of a BFA Dance and Cognitive Science on the pathway to Speech Pathology. At The U of M, she was a part of the SMTD First-Year Touring Company, where 18 company members travel to local events, schools, and fundraisers in Michigan to share their passion for dance. Mary grew up dancing at The Pennsylvania School of The Performing Arts and was a company member for 11 years.

 

In addition to PSPA, Mary trained with Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Princeton Ballet School, McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Steps NYC, Broadway Dance Center, Radio City Rockette Workshops, and Joffrey Ballet. Mary is a CB East Alumna and participated in many Patriot Players Productions as an actress, singer, and Dance Captain. In the arts, she has earned the roles of Tiger Lily in Peter Pan and Kristine in A Chorus Line.

 

Mary has a passion for teaching students of all ages, levels, and abilities to enjoy dance while developing strong technique and expressing their artistic selves. 

Mary Kacsur
2023-2024 Substitute Instructor

Brittany Hercik is a graduate of DeSales University with a B.A. in Dance and TV/Film.  She also holds certification through Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School.  During her time in college, Brittany served as President of the DeSales University Dance Team along with teaching for the school’s Conservatory of Dance.  She also interned at Pentacle, a non-profit dance organization in NYC during her junior and senior year of college.  She has performed in many dance concerts and showcases getting the opportunity to recreate work from Charles Weidman, work with the New Street Dance Group, and Natalie Desch, a former Limon Dance Company and Doug Varone member to name a few.  Other performance experiences include the American Dance College Festival Association, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Dance New Amsterdam College Exchange Program and numerous other performances throughout the area.  Her choreography has been seen at DeSales University, McConnellsburg High School, countless dance on camera productions and many dance competitions.  Brittany is currently on the dance faculty at Arts Academy Charter Middle School in Allentown, PA and also runs the En L’Airs Dance Team after school.  Brittany is thrilled to share her passion for dance with others and looks forward to what the future holds.

Brittany Hercik
2023-2024 Guest Choreographer

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Theresa M. Smith is the founder and director of both Smith Vocal Arts and Art Beat Studio. graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor's of Music in Music Industry and a minor in Theatre, she extensively studied voice, acting, piano, harp and conducting. She had the privilege of studying under Dr. Juliana Sabol, Kathy Montcrief, Shawn Hebert, Mark Cryer, Gail Lyons, and Dr. Barbara Tagg.

 

Since moving here in 2008, she has been teaching voice, acting, various music and musical theatre classes, and has been directing, music directing, and choreographing shows for various theatre companies and schools throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties. She also has years of experience directing and conducting a variety of choirs including both the award winning Cantabile Children's Choir and Kaleidoscope Show Choir, Treblemakers Show Choir, Riff Raff Show Choir, and Unaccompanied Minors A Cappella Choir. 

 

She studied various dance styles over the years, including musical theatre jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, and for the majority of her youth Irish dance, of which she trained and competed in for 10 years. She has also performed throughout the area with various theatre companies. Some of her favorite roles include The Leading Player (Pippin), Julie Jordan (Carousel), John/Elezar (Jesus Christ Superstar), Mrs. Pugh/ Boylan Sister (Annie), and Ruth (Pirates of Penzance). 

 

Her passion for the arts, love of teaching, and personal training and experience contribute to the perfect balance for her to provide a creative, informative, and supportive learning environment. She wants each student to build a solid foundation in music and theatre technique, while also nurturing confidence and individuality as a performer. 

 

Beyond her teaching skills and expertise, she is a proud and loving wife, mother of two kiddos and a fur baby.

Theresa Smith
2024 Summer Theatre Camp Instructor

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